Discovering the adversary, one day at a time

March 29, 2009

Master and Servant

Crossroads Arabia links to a Gulf News report on the public confession of AQAP leader Mohamed al-Awfi.

Riyadh: Mohammad Al Oufi, the surrendered field commander of Al Qaida
in the Arabian Peninsula, has disclosed about the plots and plans
prepared by intelligence agencies of some foreign countries to strike
the Kingdom's oil installations.

If we're to take this report at face value then apparently the Iranians have successfully insinuated themselves into the Salafist-Jihadist movement from Hamas to Al Qaeda. I'll be honest: I'm skeptical. The sources for this in particular report appear to be all government operated, and the confession itself could have been acquired through torture or threats. Gregory has many more reasons to be skeptical. Iranian influence is so strong within the movement that apparently they are dictating Al Qaeda operations? Er, okay.

As of late, Iranians have been accused of arming and supporting numerous Salafist-Jihadist groups (all Sunni, if you didn't know). Sure, it's possible. As the old saying goes: the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Iranians have mastered this strategy. It's on display in Gaza right now. However, the perfunctory nature of the accusation in this case doesn't fit into the usual knot of cash, oil, personalities, foreign interests, theological influences, and tribal culture complexities that characterizes practically every ongoing geopolitical issue in the Gulf.

Regardless, if true, doesn't this then constitute an opportunity for our military and intel leadership to use this cozy relationship in order to undermine the credibility and sincerity of the global Salafist-Jihadist movement (MB, AQ, HAMAS, other groups) in its entirety? After all, it would be hard for them to raise the black flag of Sunni-centered jihad when they're actually slaves or hired hands (which one is worse?) to Shiite masters.